"Environmental policy is considered a cornerstone of 'red-green' (Social Democratic Party-Green Party) politics in Germany. To evaluate its success, national path dependence as well as global policy convergence has to be taken into account. Therefore, we have chosen a conceptual approach that encompasses two dimensions: the scope of policy change, which can be either radical or only moderate, and Germany's international position as a pioneer or a laggard. On this basis, four types of policy strategies can be distinguished: (1) moving first, (2) catching up, (3) staying ahead, and (4) lagging behind. This typology is used to analyze four case studies: energy policy, the ecological tax reform, climate change policy, and the national sustainability strategy. The case studies show, firstly, that a policy change occurred in areas that were high on the Green Party agenda from the very beginning (phase-out of nuclear energy, ecological taxation). Secondly, it is evident that policy innovations already tested in foreign countries facilitate policy change, because policy entrepreneurs can use them as a point of reference. Thirdly, Germany pursues multilateral strategies in areas where the country is a pioneer. To guarantee Germany's position, other countries are pushed to adopt similar policies." (author's abstract)